Method for transferring funds

ABSTRACT

A method to transfer money to a payee&#39;s payment card account, without requiring an additional payment card or without acquiring a payee&#39;s payment card information is disclosed. A payee registers a payment card with a service provider. The payment card is associated with a payment card account. A payor transfers an initial amount of money to the service provider to be given to the payee, when payee uses the registered payment card for a specified spending category. The service provider stores the money until the payee uses the registered payment card to make a qualified purchase.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/075,655, filed Mar. 13, 2008, the content of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a service provider and a method of transferring funds using the service provider. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a service provider for storing an initial amount of money and transferring at least a portion of that money to one or more registered payment card accounts.

2. Introduction

A gift card is often used when giving money as a gift. A gift card is a substitute for currency, and is often a form of a physical card with an associated stored value. The gift cards may be store-specific or a third party specific, such as a credit card company specific. However, using the gift card to give money requires purchasing and delivering the gift card to the recipient. Thus, a gift card often is not a fast way of gifting money. Moreover, a gift card adds an extra card to the giftee's wallet, increasing the giftee's accounts to manage, and it is prone to loss or theft.

Another option when gifting money involves directly depositing the gift amount to the giftee's bank account. However, this does not allow the giftor to direct how the giftee can spend the money. Furthermore, this option requires the giftor to acquire the bank account information of the giftee.

Accordingly, conventional approaches to giving money as gift are not fast and efficient. Thus, there is a need for fast and efficient transfer of money from a giftor's bank account or payment card account to a giftee's bank account or payment card account while giving the giftor the ability to specify a spending category.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a method for transferring an amount of money to a payee's registered payment card account. The method includes registering at least one payee payment card with a service provider. The at least one payee payment card is associated with at least one payment card account. The method further includes transferring an initial amount of money from at least one payor to the service provider. The service provider stores the initial amount of money. The method also includes storing at least one spending category specified by the at least one payor. The service provider checks a transaction history of the at least one registered payment card account for a qualified purchase, wherein the qualified purchase is a purchase matching the at least one spending category. A portion of the initial amount of money is automatically transferred to the at least one registered payee payment card account upon identifying at least one qualified purchase on the transaction history.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the method may include notifying the payee about the initial amount of money and the at least one spending category. The at least one spending category may include one or more of an individual point of sale, a chain of stores, or a plurality of businesses in a same industry. The method may further include notifying the payee about an identity of the payor. Notifying may comprise one or more of sending an e-mail, sending a text message, sending a voice message or calling the payee.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the method may include generating a payee profile with the service provider. The payee profile stores information comprising the initial amount of money, a purchase history and the portion of the initial amount of money transferred to the at least one registered payee payment card account. The method may also include receiving a request from the payee to query the payee profile and providing the information stored on the payee profile to the payee.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the method may include requesting a percentage of the initial amount of money from the one or more payors as a service fee for using the service provider. The method may also include charging a percentage of the initial amount of money to the one or more registered payee payment cards as a service fee for using the service provider. The one or more payors may use a third party to pay the initial amount of money, the third party comprising one or more of a payment card company or an escrow service.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the method may include comparing a monetary value of the qualified purchase to the initial amount of money. If the monetary value of the qualified purchase is less than the initial amount of money, the service provider transfers a full amount of the monetary value of the qualified purchase to at least one registered payee payment card account. If the monetary value of the qualified purchase is more than the initial amount of money, the service provider transfers the initial amount of money to the at least one registered payee payment card account.

The present disclosure further provides a method for using a payment card. The method includes registering one or more payment cards with a service provider. The one or more cards are associated with one or more payment card accounts. The method also includes using the registered one or more payment cards for a qualified purchase. The qualified purchase is a purchase matching at least one spending category specified by a payor. The method further includes receiving a transfer of funds to the registered one or more payment card accounts from the service provider. The payor instructs the service provider to transfer funds to the registered one or more payment card accounts.

The present disclosure also provides a method of transferring an amount of money. The method includes registering information about a payee with a service provider. The method also includes transferring an initial amount of money to the service provider. At least one spending category is specified. The method further includes instructing the service provider to pay a portion of the initial amount of money to the payee when the payee makes a qualified purchase with a payment card. The qualified purchase is a purchase matching the at least one spending category.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of this disclosure will be readily apparent from the detailed description below and the appended drawings, which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram depicting exemplary steps taken in transferring money from a payor's account to a payee's payment card account;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting exemplary steps taken in assessing the amount of money to be transferred to the payee's payment card account;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting an exemplary application of transferring money according to the present disclosure where the purchase value is less than the initial amount of money; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting another exemplary application of transferring money according to the present disclosure, where the purchase value is more than the initial amount of money.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms “giftor” and “payor” are used throughout the description to indicate the party giving a sum of money to another party.

The terms “giftee,” “payee” or “recipient” are used throughout the description to indicate the party receiving the sum of money from another party.

As used herein, the term “payment card” refers to any financial account with transactional activity. A payment card includes, but is not limited to, a credit card, a debit card or a financial account.

The disclosure can be used with different types of money transfer, including but not limited to money transfers as gifts. The use of “gift” in describing the money transfer is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

The present disclosure enables a payor to transfer money to a payee's payment card account, without requiring an additional payment card or without acquiring the payee's payment card information. According to the present disclosure, the payee registers a payment card with a service provider. The payee may register one or more payment cards with the service provider. A payor transfers an initial amount of money to the service provider to be given to the payee. The payor also indicates a spending category to the service provider. A spending category may include one or more of an individual point of sale, a chain of stores, or a plurality of businesses in a same industry such as eating/drinking establishments. The payor may choose a single spending category, a combination of categories or all categories.

When the payee uses the registered payment card for a .qualified purchase, a portion of the initial amount of money is transferred to the payee's payment card account. A qualified transaction occurs when a payee uses the registered payment card to make a purchase of the specified spending category.

According to the teachings of the present disclosure, the payor may transfer the initial amount of money to the service provider before the payee registers one or more payment cards with the service provider. In that case, the service provider invites the payee to register one or more of the payee payment cards with the service provider.

The service provider may accept money transfers from multiple payors. The service provider may keep the payor identities private, upon the individual payor's request. Upon receiving the initial amount of money, the service provider stores the initial amount of money until the payee uses the registered payment card to make a qualified use other means.

The service provider monitors the transaction history of the registered payee payment card for qualified purchases. Upon identifying a qualified purchase, the service provider transfers a portion of the initial amount of money to the registered payee payment card account. Alternatively, upon the payee's request, the service provider may transfer a portion of the initial amount of money to a different payment card account that the payee registered with the service provider.

For example, a payor may indicate that the initial amount of money transferred to the service provider may only be used for purchases from the Starbucks® coffee stores. When the payee uses a payment card registered with the service provider to make a purchase from a Starbucks® store, thus a qualified purchase, the service provider transfers a portion of the initial amount of money to the payee's registered payment card account. To determine the portion of the initial amount of money to be transferred to the payee's payment card account, the service provider compares the purchase amount to the initial amount of money. If the purchase amount is less than the initial amount of money, the service provider transfers a portion of the initial amount of money equal to the purchase amount to the payee's registered payment card account. Thus, the payee is reimbursed for the purchase from the Starbucks® store. If the purchase amount is larger than the initial amount of money, the service provider transfers the initial amount of money in full to the payee's payment card account. Thus, the payee is reimbursed the amount of the initial amount of money.

The payee's payment card is initially charged for the full qualified purchase amount just like a regular purchase. Reimbursement, up to the initial amount, is transferred to the payee's payment card account after the service provider identifies that a qualifying charge has appeared on the payee's payment card transaction history.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow chart 100 depicting exemplary steps taken in transferring money from a payor's account to a payee's payment card account. A payee registers a payment card with the service provider (step 102). The payor transfers an initial amount of money to the service provider to be given to the payee (step 104). The payor further indicates a spending category, an individual point of sale, a chain of stores, or a plurality of businesses in a same industry such as eating/drinking establishments to the service provider for which the payee may spend a portion of the initial amount of money (step 1 06). The service provider notifies the payee about the initial amount of money and the spending category (step 108). According to one option, the service provider may notify the payee about an identity of the payor (step 108). For example, the service provider may send a text message or a voice message to the payee's cellular phone or the service provider may send an e-mail to the payee's registered email address to notify the payee. When the payee uses the registered payment card to make a qualified purchase (step 110), the service provider automatically transfers a portion of the initial amount of money to the payee's payment card account (step 112). A qualified purchase is a purchase that matches the spending category specified by the payor. This transaction is seamless to the store where the payee makes the purchase.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 200 depicting exemplary steps taken in assessing the amount of money to be transferred to the payee's payment card account. When the payee provider compares the qualified purchase value with the initial amount given by the payor (step 204). If the qualified purchase value is smaller than the initial amount of money, the service provider transfers the qualified purchase value to the registered payment card account of the payee (step 206). According to one option, the service provider may notify the payee of the remaining balance of the initial amount (step 208). If the qualified purchase value is larger than the initial amount of money, the service provider transfers the initial amount of money in full to the registered payment card account of the payee (step 210).

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram 300 depicting an exemplary application of the present disclosure. The payee registers a payment card with the service provider (step 302). The payor transfers an initial amount of money, $100, to the service provider to be given to the payee (step 304). The payor also indicates a chain of stores, e.g., Burger King®, to the service provider for which the payee may spend $100 given by the payor (step 306). The service provider notifies the payee of the $100 that can be spent at Burger King® stores (step 308). Upon the request of the payor, the service provider may also notify the payee of the identity of the payor (step 308). However, the payor may chose to remain anonymous. When the payee uses the registered payment card to make a purchase of $10 from a Burger King® store (step 310), the service provider identifies the qualified transaction on the payee's payment card transaction history and automatically transfers $10 to the payee's registered payment card account (step 312). The service provider also notifies the payee of the transaction of $10 (step 312). For example, the service provider may send a text message or a voice message to the payee's cellular phone or an email to the payee's email address indicating that the payee has been reimbursed for $10 spent at the Burger King®. According to one option, the service provider may also notify the payee of the remaining balance, e.g. $90 (step 314).

The payor may transfer the money to the service provider using a third party service provider, e.g., a payment card or an escrow service. For example, the payor may use PayPal® to transfer the initial amount of money to the service provider. The third party may charge a fee to the payor for using the services. Similarly, the service provider may also charge a fee to the payor for using its services. The fee may be a percentage of the initial amount of money. The fee may also be a fixed amount of money. Alternatively, the service provider may charge the usage fee to the payee or to the third party. The service provider may earn an interest on the initial amount of money or an unused portion of the initial amount of money. However, the service provider transfers available funds to the payee in a timely manner once the payee uses the registered payment card for a qualifying purchase.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram 400 depicting another exemplary application of the present disclosure. The payee registers a payment card with the service provider (step 402). The payor transfers an initial amount of money, $10, to the service provider to be given to the payee (step 404). The payor also indicates a spending category, e.g., any grocery store, to the service provider for which the payee may spend $10 given by the payor (step 406). The service provider notifies the payee of $10 that can be spent at any grocery store (step 408). Upon the request of the payor, the service provider may also notify the payee of the identity of the payor (step 408). When the payee uses the registered payment card to make a purchase of $25 from a grocery store (step 410), the service provider identifies the qualified transaction on the payee's payment card transaction history and automatically transfers $10 to the payee's registered payment card account (step 412). The service provider also notifies the payee of the transaction of $10 (step 412). For example, the service provider may send a text message or a voice message to the payee's cellular phone or an email to the payee's email address indicating that the payee has been reimbursed for $10 spent at the grocery store.

A system embodiment includes a processor (a computer processor as is generally known in the art) and a computer-readable storage medium, which stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations disclosed herein. A computer-readable storage medium or storage device embodiment covers the medium or device as is generally known in the art that stores instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations disclosed herein. Such a medium or device excludes signals per se, energy per se, and any other non-statutory subject matter.

The present disclosure is directed to a first party giving money to a second party without giving an extra physical gift card to the second party or without requiring the financial information of the second party. While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a registration of a payee account at a service provider, the payee account being associated with a payee; receiving, from a payor comprising an individual, an identification of the payee and a spending category, the payee account being registered with the service provider prior to the receiving; transmitting, via a processor of a computing device, a notice to the payee, wherein the notice is linked to the payee account to yield a profile associated with the spending category and the payee account; monitoring, via a processor of a computing device and according to the profile, purchasing transactions made using the payee account for a qualified purchase; and based on the qualified purchase, transferring, via a processor of a computing device, an amount of money to pay for at least part of the qualified purchase.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payee account is one of a debit account, a financial account, and a credit account.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving an initial amount of money from a payor account into a service provider account, wherein the amount of money is drawn from the initial amount of money.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple payors contribute to the amount of money.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of money is transferred to the payee account and is determined by comparing an initial amount of money received from the payor to a purchase amount associated with the qualified purchase.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein if the purchase amount is less than the initial amount of money, then the amount of money transferred to the payee account is a full amount of the qualified purchase, and wherein if the purchase amount is more than the initial amount of money, then the amount of money transferred is the initial amount of money.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: charging the payee account for the qualified purchase; and reimbursing the payee account when the qualified purchase appears on a transaction history of the payee account.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: charging a percentage of an initial amount of money provided by the payor as a service fee for using the service provider.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the payor, the payee and a third party is charged the percentage of the initial amount of money.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the spending category comprises one of an individual point of sale, a chain of stores, and a plurality of businesses in a same industry.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein a third party pays at least a portion of an initial amount of money which funds the amount of money transferred.
 12. A system comprising: a processor of a computer device; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor of the computing device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving a registration of a payee account at a service provider, the payee account being associated with a payee; receiving, from a payor comprising an individual, an identification of the payee and a spending category, the payee account being registered with the service provider prior to the receiving; transmitting a notice to the payee, wherein the notice is linked to the payee account to yield a profile associated with the spending category and the payee account; monitoring, according to the profile, purchasing transactions made using the payee account for a qualified purchase; and based on the qualified purchase, transferring an amount of money to pay for at least part of the qualified purchase.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the payee account is one of a debit account, a financial account, and a credit account.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor of the computing device, cause the processor of the computing device to perform a further operation comprising: receiving an initial amount of money from a payor account into a service provider account, wherein the amount of money is drawn from the initial amount of money.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein multiple payors contribute to the amount of money.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein the amount of money is transferred to the payee account and is determined by comparing an initial amount of money received from the payor to a purchase amount associated with the qualified purchase.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein if the purchase amount is less than the initial amount of money, then the amount of money transferred to the payee account is a full amount of the qualified purchase, and wherein if the purchase amount is more than the initial amount of money, then the amount of money transferred is the initial amount of money.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor of the computing device, cause the processor of the computing device to perform a further operation comprising: charging the payee account for the qualified purchase and reimbursing the payee account when the qualified purchase appears on a transaction history of the payee account.
 19. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor of a computing device, cause the processor of the computing device to perform a further operation comprising: charging a percentage of an initial amount of money provided by the payor as a service fee for using the service provider.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations comprising: receiving a registration of a payee account at a service provider, the payee account being associated with a payee; receiving, from a payor comprising an individual, an identification of the payee and a spending category, the payee account being registered with the service provider prior to the receiving; transmitting a notice to the payee, wherein the notice is linked to the payee account to yield a profile associated with the spending category and the payee account; monitoring, according to the profile, purchasing transactions made using the payee account for a qualified purchase; and based on the qualified purchase, transferring an amount of money to pay for at least part of the qualified purchase. 